Upper-pulling machine



J. T. LANCASTER.

UPPER PULLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I6. 1918.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- WVf/VTDR.

Fig.1.

J. T. LANCASTER.

UPPER PULLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1a. 1918.

1,362,631 Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

I I 3 SHEETSSHEET 2- J. T. LANCASTER. UPPER PULLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I6. 1918.

1,362,631 Patented Dec. 21, 1920..

a SHEET-SHEET s.

W n/ram UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. LANCASTER, OF I-IAVERI-IILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITEDSHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, N EVV' JERSEY, A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY.

UPPER-PULLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

r cat whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. LANCASTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Haverhill, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain Imrovements in Upper-PullingMachines, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters onthe drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoesfor shaping the shoe upper to the contour of the last. Wellknown typesof such machines, as commonly constructed, comprise means for pullingthe upper over the last, for drawing or laying the margin of the upperover the edge of the sole or insole, and for fastening the margin of theupper in position. An object of this invention is to provide an upperpulling machine having means for securing improved results in thepulling or stretching of the upper with less attention and effort on thepart of the operator than in prior constructions.

Although machines have been devised heretofore adapted for-use inshaping the upper to the last by successive pulling impulses including afinal supplemental pull for insuring conformityjof the upper to thecontour of the last before it is fastened in position, as shown forexample-in United States Letters Patent No. 1,169,414, granted onJanuary 25, 1916 upon the application of R. F. McFeely for improvementsin pullingover machines, the operator in the use of such machines hasbeen required to effect or to initiate the supplemental pulling movementof the gripper or grippers manually as an operation independent of theother operative movements of the machine. One important object of thisinvention is to reduce the expenditure of time and effort on the part ofthe operator, while retaining the well-known advantages of successiveimpulses for stretching the upper stock and shaping it closely to thelast. T c this end the invention provides, as an important fea ture,novel means constructed and arranged for automatic operation in timerelation to other operative movements of the machine for imparting asupplemental pull to the upper. As applied to a well known type ofpullling-over machine, the invention, in

its illustrative embodiment, provides means automatically operative,subsequently to the usual yieldingly effected pull on the upper at thesides and the toe of the last and after opportunity has been affordedfor adjusting the upper with reference to the last, for imparting in theoverdrawing movement of the grippers at the sides of the last anadditional final pull of definite extent to stretch the uppereffectively and compensate for any possible relaxation in the tension ofthe upper in the interval between the release of the upper by thegrippers and the dpiving of the tacks to hold the upper in pace. 7

A further feature of the invention is to be recognized in novel meansfor subjecting the upper gripping means of an upper pulling machine topositive control to pre vent the tension on the upper from being relaxedduring the movement of such means for drawing the margin of the upperover the sole. In the construction shown, including the usual yieldingconnections between the side grippers and their operating cams foreffecting the first updraw movement, novel means is provided forpreventing movement of these grippers in the direction of the plane ofthe shoe bottom in their overdrawing movement, such means in theillustrative construction serving also to impart to the side grippers asupplemental updraw movement such as above described in their movementto draw the upper over the margin of the sole.

1 In the provision in an upper pulling machine of means for subjectingthe upper to a pull the final portion of which is positive or unyieldingimportant advantages are involved as insuring the proper degree oftension in'the upper at the time of the upper fasteningoperation and ascontributing to uniformly satisfactory results in the pulling ofdifferent uppers, aside from such additional advantages as are involvedin a machine of the type herein shown in pulling by successive impulses;and in a further aspect an important feature of the invention is to berecognized in a novel organiza tion of means for pulling an upperyieldingly and then unyieldingly, the machine shown having controllingmeans automatically operative at a determinate time in the cycle tosupplement the yielding pull with an unyielding pull.

Still another feature of the invention resides in a novel combination ofmeans whereby the upper may be pulled manually and then by power insuccessive operations of the gripper or grippers.

The above and other features of the invention, including certain moreimportant details of construction and combinations of parts, will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine in which the inventionis embodied,

Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of the machine in front elevation, withparts shown.

in vertical section, this view illustrating an intermediate stage in thecycle of operations of the machine,

Fig. 3 is a. plan view, partly in section, of mechanism with which themachine. is provided for effecting a supplemental updraw movement of thegrippers, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig.3.

The machine herein shown, which is of a tvpe more fully illustrated anddescribed in Patent No. 1,029,387 granted on June 11, 1912 upon anapplication of R. F. McFeely, comprises a driving shaft 2 the rotationof which is controlled by a clutch rod 4, the shaft having the usualcams by means of which movement is imparted to the variousinstrumentaliti'es for operating upon the shoe materials, including thetoe gripper (5 and side grippers 8 for engaging and pulling the upper ona last positioned by means of the sole rest 10 and the heel rest 12.Each of the side grippers 8, of which only one is seen in the drawings,is connected to an updraw lever 14 which is operated to cause thegripper to pull or updraw the upper through downward movement of a rod16 effected by a cam on the shaft 2, the connections between the lever'and the rod comprising a spring 18 which bears at one end on the leverand at its other end on a nut 20 on the rod, from which it results thatthe pull on the upper effected by the movement of the rod 16 is ayielding one the strength of which depends upon the tension of thespring 18. Only one side gripper operating rod 16 and spring 18 areshown. in

the drawings, but it will be understood that the lever 14 on theopposite side of the machine from that in view in Fig. 1 is operated byother yielding connections such as above described and that theoperations of both side grippers are substantially simultaneous. The toegripper 6 is operated by a lever 22 and yielding connections similar tothose for operating the side grippers.

In order that the updraw movement of the levers 14 effected through thetensioned springs 18 may be suitably retarded and controlled to preventtearing the upper and to afford the opportunity for adjusting the upperon the last while the upper is under a suitable tension, the machine isprovided with means for controlling the movement of the levers 14. T 0this end each lever 14 is embraced by a yoke 24 having a semi-sphericalbearing member 26 fitting in a bearing formed in a bar 28, the barhaving a shank 30 midway between its opposite ends which is swiveled ina block 32 fast on a rock shaft 34, this construction permitting the bar28 to adjust itself to different relative positions of the levers 14. Onone end of the rock shaft 34 is a segmental gear 36 the teeth of whichare in mesh with the teeth of a similar gear 38 to which is secured ahand lever 40, the hand lever and the gear 38 being pivoted on a fulcrumrod 42. Connected to the hand lever 40 is a piston 44 which cooperateswith a cylinder 46 to provide a dash pot to retard the updraw movementof the levers 1.4 effected through the action of the springs 18. Thisconstruction serves to obviate a too sudden pull upon the upper such asmight tend, in some cases, to tear the stock, and also affords theoperator an opportunity to observe the progress of the stretching actionof the grippers and in case of apparent danger of tearing the stock tooppose resistance to the movement of the gripper levers, under theaction of the springs 18, by pressure upon the hand lever 40, thusrendering the springs ineffective to move the levers as far as theyotherwise would during the upper pulling operation. It will beunderstood that after the machine has come to rest at the end of theupdraw movement the handle 40 may, in any case, be safely released bythe operator, since the friction of the parts, the action of the dashpotand the resistance of the upper stock are suflicient to prevent suchsubsequent movement of the updraw levers under the force of the springs18 as 'to cause the upper to be stretched to the danger point. While themachine is at rest with the upper under tension, the hand lever 40 maybe further moved toward the rear if the condition of the upper stockrenders it advisable, to increase the tension on the sides of the upper,the construction thus affording means whereby a further positive pullupon the upper at the sides of the last may be effected manually.Although the springs 18 necessarily expand to take up such manualmovement of the updraw levers 14 and are effective, in a considerabledegree, to retain the levers in such position as they may assume inconsequence of the operation of the hand lever 40, the machine isprovided further with a catch 48 arranged to be operated by a lever 50fulcrumed on the hand lever 40 to cause the catch to engage ratchetteeth 52 and through the connections described between the hand lever 40and the updraw 1evers 14 lock the updraw levers against retraction. Thecatch 48 is normally disengaged from the ratchet 52 through the actionof a light spring 58 and may be moved into engagement with the ratchetat the will of the operator. The frictional engagement of the catch andthe teeth serves to keep the catch in locking position until a furtherup draw movement is imparted to the grippers as hereinafter explained.

The machine as thus far described, in its essential details ofconstruction and manner of operation, is similar to that shown anddescribed inthe McFeely Patent No.

1.169414 hereinbefore referred to, except as the details of theconstruction are moditied for the purposes of this invention, and it isin a machine having these characteristics that the present invention maywell be embodied with desirable results, although it should beunderstood that the invention in its broader aspects is not restrictedin scope by the limitations of the prior construction. In. carrying outthe objects of the invention means is provided in the illustrativemachine for imparting to the side gripper levers 14 an automatic updrawmovement independently of the action of the springs 18 and subsequentlyto the movement effected by the springs. The machine is constructed tocause this supplemental updraw movement of the levers 14 to take placeduring the usual inward swinging movement of the side grippersrelatively to their operating levers whereby the margin of the upper isdrawn over the bottom of the last prior to the operation of the tack.-

ing devices such overdrawing movement of the side grippers and of thetoe gripper being effected by the action of overdraw springs 47 whichpress inwardly against the different gripper bars, supplemented by inward pressure of the overlaying devices carried by the tacker arms 49.It will. be understood that this overdrawing movement of the sidegrippers results from the retraction of the usual gripper controllingslide 51 (Fig 1) under control of a member 55 which is connected to thetoe and side tacker arms 49 and is moved rearwardly to swing these armstoward the shoe. Such movement of the member 55 is effected through arack 54 formed. on its rear end portion and engaged by a pinion 56011 arock shaft 58 which receives its movement by a rack and pinionconnection from a lever 60 operated by a cam on the shaft 2, as morefully disclosed in Patent No. 1,029,387. On one end of the shaft 58 issecured a segmental gear 62, the teeth of which are in mesh with theteeth of a similar gear 64- from which movement is imparted at theproper time to the rock shaft 34 through connections comprising a link66 connected at one end to an arm 68 on the rock shaft and at its otherend to an arm 70 keyed to a barrel 72 which is mounted both to turn andto slide lengthwise in a bearing in the frame, the barrel 72 havingsecured thereto a clutch member 74 provided with teeth which arearranged to engage similar teeth on a coiiperating clutch member 76secured to the gear 64. The gear'64 is mounted to turn on a sleevemember 78 which is slidable lengthwise in a bearing in the frame, andwithin the sleeve 7 8 is a clutch controlling rod 80 enlarged at one endfor engagement with an internal flange 82 in the sleeve. On the outsideof the sleeve 78 is a flange 84 which is received within a recess in thegear 64 on the end adjacent to the clutch member 7 6 and thus causes thegear and the clutch memher to move axially with the sleeve whilepermitting them to turn on the sleeve. The rod 80 is extended throughthe clutch member 74 and the barrel 72, the outer end portion of the rodhaving a bearing in a nipple 86 threaded adjustably in the barrel. Aspring 88 bearing at one end on the flange 82 and at its other end onthe nipple 86 serves to position the barrel 72 and the sleeve 78 and rod80 normally in such relation as to separate the clutch members 74 and76, a stop 90 on the end of the rod 80 determining by engagement withthe end of the nipple 86 the distance by which the clutch members areseparated. Both clutch members 74 and 7 6 together with the barrel 79,the sleeve and the gear 64 may thus be moved a limited distance axiallyby the endwise movement of the rod 80 without causing relative movementof the clutch members, the spring 88 being of sufficient strength tokeep the clutch members separated during such axial movement. Uponengagement. however, of the barrel 72 with a stop 92 threaded adjustablyin the frame, movement of the barrel and the clutch member 74 toward theleft 3) will be stopped and further movement of the rod 80 in the samedirection will then cause the clutch member 7 6 to engage the member 74,whereupon the gear 64 will impart movement through the connectionsdescribed to the rock shaft 34 to cause a positive updraw movement ofthe levers 14. Such clutch actuating movement of the rod 80 is effectedby means of a cam 94 on the shaft 2 in engagement with a roll 96 carriedby the rod, the rod carrying also a stem 98 slidable in a bearing in theframe and surrounded by a spring 100 which tends to move the rod and theassociated parts in the direction of the cam. It will be understood thatthe gear 64 is suflioiently wide to cause it to remain continuously inengagement with the gear 62. The arm 70 is restrained from axialmovement with the barrel 72 by engagement with the bearing on one sideand with a stop member 102 on the other side, and the key connection 104between the barrel and the arm permits the barrel to slide relatively tothe arm. Adjustment of the stop 92, it will be apparent, serves to varythe distance which the rod 80 must move before the clutch members 74, 76are engaged and therefore to determine the extent of the supplementalupdraw movement of the side grippers and the point in the cycle when thelocking of the grippers against retractive movement takes place, thelength of the teeth on the clutch members being sufiicient to permitsuch variation in the timing of the clutch. In order to retain the stop92 in adjusted position the machine is provided with a dog 105 arrangedfor engagement with one of a series of notches in the periphery of thestop. The stop 90 on the end of the rod 80 serves, as explained, todetermine the relative positions of the clutch members 74, 76 when thesemembers are disengaged, as well as to determine the tension of thespring 88.

In order further to insure that Whatever tension may be put upon theupper in the supplemental updraw movement shall be retained until thegrippers have released the upper, the barrel 7 2 has a series of teeth106 out within its peripheral outline and a pawl 108 on the framecooperates with these teeth to retain the barrel and consequently theupdraw levers 14 temporarily in the position to which they are moved bythe action of the gears 62 and 64. IVhen the parts are in their idlepositions a portion of the pawl rests upon-the cylindrical periphery ofthe barrel 72 and the pawl is thus positioned out of engagement with theteeth. \Vhen the barrel receives its endwise movement through the actionof the cam 94 on the rod 80, the teeth 106 are moved into position topermit the pawl to engage them and the pawl then becomes effective toretain the barrel in the position to which it is turned.

In the use of the machine the operator positions the last and the upperand causes the first updraw movement to take place in the usual mannerby the actuation of the machine clutch. Such movement may be retardedand controlled, if necessary, by the manipulation of the hand lever 40as hereinbefore explained. While the machine is at rest with the upperunder the tension of the springs 18, adjustment of the upper may beeffected as usual. by manipulation of the updraw levers and the tensionon the stock at the sides of the last may be relaxed somewhat or may befurther increased, as conditions demand, by the operation of the handlever 40. If the hand lever is moved to increase the tension on thestock, it may be locked against retraction by setting the catch 48 inengagement with the ratchet 52. Upon the actuation of the clutch toeffect the final stage of the cycle of operations of the machine,movement is imparted to the gear 64 through the operation of the lever60, as explained, and at a time in the movement of the gear determinedby the adjustment of the stop 92, which may be after the grippers havebegun their overdrawing movement, the clutch 74, 76 is renderedeffective to transmit movement from the gear to the side updraw levers14. It will be evident that upon the engagement of the clutch members74, 76 the side grippers are entirely under the control of the lever 60through the unyielding connections between,

this lever and the grippers and that the 80 springs 18 have no influenceupon the positions of these grippers in the final updraw movement. Inconsequence of this construction and arrangement positive control of theside grippers is insured to prevent them from relaxing in anysubstantial degree the tension on the upper during their movement todraw the upper over the margin of the sole. Furthermore, a positiveadditional updraw movement of the grippers of a predetermined extent iseffected in the manner described to stretch the upper finally to thelast immediately prior to the operation of the tacking devices, and thisfinal updraw effected entirely automatically without any attention onthe part of the operator. This movement of the grippers is accompaniednecessarily, in the illustrative construction, by a further rearwardmovement of the hand lever 40, the catch 48 being d raw movement and theoverdraw movement of the grippers, as well as the movement of thetacking devices to tacking position, take place through a movement ofthe lever 60 in one direction, the grippers releasing their hold uponthe stock immediately prior to the driving of the tacks. The reversemovement of the lever 60 then takes place and the various parts of themachine are returned to starting position, the cam 94 in the meantimereleasing the rod 80 and permitting the clutch members 74, 76 toseparate in response to the action of the spring 88, thereby releasingthe side grippers again to the control of the updraw springs 18.

While the invention is herein illustrated as applied to the sidegrippers of a pullingover machine, it will be evident that importantadvantages are involved which are not dependent upon the characteristicfeatures of a machine of the particular type shown nor upon pulling theupper at the sides, and it will be understood that in many of itsaspects the invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiment.

Having described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means l'or operating said gripper to pull theupper over a last and then to draw the margin of the upper inward overthe bottom of the last, and means automatically operative in timerelation to the overdrawing movement of the gripper for operating thegripper to impart to the upper a supplemental pull in said overdrawingmovement.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, yielding means for operating the gripper to pullthe upper over a last, means for moving the gripper to draw the marginof the upper inward over the bottom of the last, and means forsubjecting the gripper to positive control irrespective of the infiuenceof said yieldin means and for moving it lurther to pul lt he upper insaid overdrawing movement.

3. A machine or" the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to pull the upperover a last comprising an operating member and connections constructedand arranged to permit relative yielding movement between the gripperand said member, means for moving the gripper to draw the margin of theupper inward over the bottom of the last, and means arranged to berendered operative after the gripper has begun its overdrawing movementfor preventing such relative yielding movement in the gripper operatingconnections in said overdrawing of the upper.

A. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to pull the upperover a last comprising an updraw lever and a spring for operating saidlever, means for moving the gripper relatively to the lever to draw themargin of the upper inward over the bottom of the last, and positivemeans arranged to be rendered operative after the gripper has begun itsoverdrawing movement for determining the position of the lever in saidoverdrawing movement.

5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to pull the upperover a last comprising an updraw lever and a spring for operating saidlever, means for moving the gripper to draw the margin of the upperinward over the bottom of the last, and means automatically operative tomove said lever independently of the spring to impart to the upper asupplemental pull in said overdrawing movement.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to pull the uppercomprising a spring for applying pulling force to the gripper, means formoving the gripper to draw the margin of the upper over the bottom ofthe last, and power driven means comprising positive connections to saidgripper for operating it to impart a supplemental final pull to theupper in said overdrawing movement.

7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to cause it topull the upper and to come to rest with ,the upper under tension, meansfor imparting to the gripper subsequently a supplemental updrawmovement, and power operated means for initiating the operation of saidsupplemental updraw means.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, power operating means and connections thereto forimparting to the gripper two successive updraw movements, and poweroperated controlling means for causing the second updraw movement totake place at a definite point in the cycle of operations of themachine.

9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for imparting'to the gripper an initialyielding pull, means for subsequently imparting a positive pull to the,gripper, and power operated controlling means for initiating theoperation of said. positive pulling means at a definite point in thecycle of operations of the machine.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operatmg the 0 gripper to pull theupper, power driven mechanism for causing the gripper to draw the marginof the upper over the bottom of the last, and means incidentallyoperative in the operation of said power driven mech- 1o anism foreffecting a supplemental pulling movement of the gripper.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to pull the upperover a last, the gripper being movable to draw the margin of the upperover the bottom of the last, means for controlling the overdrawingmovement of the gripper, and mechanism operated by said last named meansfor imparting a sup-. plemental pulling movement to the gripper.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, yielding means for operating the gripper to pullthe upper over a last, the gripper being movable to draw the margin ofthe upper over the bottom of the last, means for controlling theoverdrawing movement of the gripper, and mechanism operated by said lastnamed means for imparting a supplemental positive pull to the gripper.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating said gripper to pull theupper over a last, means for operating the gripper to draw the margin ofthe upper inward over the bottom of the last, and locking means arrangedto be rendered operative by a moving part of the machine after thegripper has begun its overdrawingmovement to prevent movement of thegripper toward the plane of the shoe bottom in said overdrawingmovement.

14. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to pull theupper, means for imparting to the gripper a supplemental updrawmovement, said last named means-comprising power operated connectionsincluding a clutch, and means automatically operative to actuate said,clutch at a definite point in the cycle of operations of the machine.

15. machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripper forengaging an upper, means for imparting an initial pulling movement tothe gripper, power operated means including a clutch for imparting afinal pulling movement to the gripper, and power operated means foractuating said clutch to cause the final pulling movement to take place.

16. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, yielding means for imparting an initial pullingmovement to the gripper, positive means including a clutch for impartinga final pulling movement to the gripper, and power operated means foractuating said clutch to cause the final pulling movement to take place.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to pull theupper, means for imparting to the gripper a supplemental updrawmovement, said last named means comprising power operated connectionsincluding cooperating clutch members, means tending to maintain saidmembers in disconnected relation, and power operated means forconnecting said members to cause the supplemental updraw movement totake place.

18. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to pull theupper, and means for imparting to the gripper a supplemental updrawmovement, said last named means being adjustable as to its time ofoperation to vary the extent of said supplemental movement of th egripper.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to pull theupper, means for imparting to the gripper a supplemental updrawmovement, said last named means comprising power operated connectionsincluding a clutch, and means for actuating said clutch adjustable tovary the extent of said supplemental updraw movement of the gripper.

20. Amachine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating the gripper to pull the upperover a last, the gripper being movable to draw the margin of the upperover the bottom of the last, means for controlling the overdrawingmovement of the gripper, connections between said last named means andthe gripper for imparting a supplemental updraw movement to the gripper,said connections including a clutch, and means for actuating said clutchto cause the supplemental updraw movement of the gripper to take place.

21. A machine of the class described having, in combination, grippersfor engaging an upper at opposite sides of a last, means for operatingsaid grippers to pull the upper, and automatically controlled poweroperated means for imparting to said grip pers in unison a supplementalpositive pulling movement to stretch the upper.

22. A machine of the class described having, in combination, grippersfor engaging an upper at opposite sides of a last, means for operatingsaid grippers to pull the upper, means for operating the grippers todraw the margin of the upper over the bottom of the last, and means forimparting to thc grippers in said overdrawing movement a supplementalupper stretching movement.

23. A machine of the class described having, in combination, grippersfor engaging the forepart of an upper at opposite sides of a last, meansfor operating said grippers to cause them to pull the upper and to cometo rest with the upper under tension, starting mechanism for renderingsaid gripper operating means effective to pull the upper, meansoperative upon a subsequent actuation of said starting mechanism to laythe margin of the upper over the bottom of the last and fastenv it inposition, and means ,arranged to be rendered operative by said lastnamed actuation of the starting mechanism for operating the grippers toimpart a sup plemental pull to the upper.

2 1. A machine of the class described having, in combination, grippersfor engaging the forepart of an upper at opposite sides of a last, meansfor operating said grippers to cause them to pull the upper and to cometo rest with the upper under tension to enable the operator to adjustthe upper on the last, manually operative means for causing the machinesubsequently to complete its cycle of operations on the shoe, and meansincidentally operative in said final stage of the cycle of operationsfor causing the grippers to impart a supplemental pull to the upper.

25. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, manual means for operating the gripper to pullthe upper, means for locking the gripper against movement in a directionto relax the tension of the upper, and means for imparting asupplemental pulling movement to the gripper.

26. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, manual means comprising a hand lever foroperating the gripper to pull the upper, means for locking said leveragainst movement in a direction to relax the tension of the upper, andpower operated means independent of said lever for imparting asupplemental pulling movement to the gripper.

27. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating said gripper to cause it topull the upper and to come to rest with the upper under tension, manualmeans for operating the gripper to increase the tension of the upper,power driven mechanism for subsequently overlaying and fastening theupper, and means incidentally operative during the operation I of saidoverlaying mechanism for further moving the gripper to increase thetension of the upper.

28. A machine of the class described having, in combination, grippersfor engaging an upper at opposite sides of a last, means for operatingsaid grippers to pull the up per, manual means for operating saidgrippers in unison to increase the tension of the upper, and powerdriven means for sub sequently imparting an additional pulling movementto the grippers.

29. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, means for operating said gripper to subject theupper to a yielding pull, manual means for operating the gripper toincrease the tension of the upper, and power operated means forimparting a final pulling movement of definite extent to the gripper.

30. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper, power operated means for moving said gripper topull the upper, manual means for moving the gripper to increase thetension of the upper and for locking it to hold the tension, and poweroperated means constructed and arranged to assume positive control ofthe gripper subsequently and to overdraw and fasten the upper.

31. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, aplurality of grippers for engaging an upper on a last, means foroperating said grippers to pull the upper, a device common to theseveral grippers for holding them against retractive movement, and poweroperated means for rendering said device effective to hold the grippers.

32. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forgripping an upper on a last, means for effecting relative movement ofsaid gripping means and the last to pull the upper, means for movingsaid gripping means inwardly over the last to overdraw the upper, andpower operated mechanism timed to impart upper pulling operativemovement to the gripping means to tighten the upper in the overdrawingmovement of said means.

A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forgripping an upper on a last, means for operating said gripping means topull the upper, means Ior moving the grlpping means inwardly over thelast to overdraw the upper, and mechanism for imparting to the grippingmeans a further movement in the same direction as its first pullingmovement in the overdrawing of the upper.

34. A machine of the class described having. in combination, means forgripping an upper on a last, means for effecting relative movement ofsaid gripping means and the last to pull the upper and for then holdingthe upper under tension with the machine at rest, means for moving saidgripping means inwardly over the last to overdraw the upper when themachine is again started, and mechanism arranged to be operated afterthe machine has thus been started to impart to the gripping means apulling movement to tighten the upper.

35. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forgripping an upper on a last, power operated means for effecting relativemovement of said gripping means and the last to pull the upper in onestage of the cycle of operations of the machine andgtor causing thegripping means to draw the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last ata later stage in the cycle of operations after the machine has beenagain started, and mechanism arranged to be operated in said last-namedstage of the cycle of operations to move the gripping means in adirection to change the tension of the upper.

36. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an upperengaging gripper, means for effecting relative move ment of said gripperand a last to pull the upper, means for causing the gripper subsequentlyto draw the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, and mechanismarranged to impart to the gripper a movement in a direction to changethe tension of the upper during the overdrawing movement of the gripper.

37. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forgripping an upper on a last, means for effecting relative movement ofthe gripping means and the last to pull the upper and for then causingthe gripping means to draw the upper inwardly over the bottom of thelast, mochanism for moving the gripping means in a direction to increasethe tension of the upper before the overdrawing movement is completed,and power operated means for initiating the operation of said mechanism.

38. A machine of the class described having, in combination, uppergripping means, power driven means for operating said gripping means topull the upper and for then causing the gripping means to hold the upperunder tension with the machine at rest, and means automaticallyoperative upon a subsequent starting of the machine to impart to thegripping means a second movement in substantially the same direction asits first movement to increase the tension of the upper.

39. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forgripping an upper on a last, power operating means, means for causingsaid operating means to efi'ect a relative movement of the grippingmeans and the last to pull the upper yieldingly, and means for causingsaid operating means subsequently to effect a positive relative movementof the gripping means and the last automatically predetermined in extentto increasethe tension of the upper.

40. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forgripping an upper on a last, means for operating said gripping means tocause it to. pull the upper and then to hold the upper under tensionwith the machine at rest, means for operating the gripping means afterthe machine is agaln started to draw the margin of the upper inwardlyover the bottom of the last, and means arranged to be rendered operativeautomatically upon said starting of the machine to lock the grippingmeans against yielding movement 1n a direction toward the plane of theshoe bottom.

41. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forgripping an upper on a last, means for operating said gripping means tocause it to pull the upper and then to hold the upper under tension withthe machine at rest, means for causing said gripping means to draw themargin of the upper inwardly over the boting, in combination, a gripperfor engaging an upper on a last, means for efiiecting relative movementof said gripper and last to pull the upper and for causing the gripperthen to hold the upper under tension with the machine at rest, means foroperating the gripper when the machine is again started to draw themargin of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, and means arranged to be rendered operative automatically upon said starting of themachine to lock the gripper for holding the tension of the upper, saidlocking means being arranged to' remain operative to lock the gripperuntil the overdrawing movement of the gripper has been completed.

43. An upper pulling machine having, in combination, an upper engaginggripper, a shoe bottom rest, and means automatically operative in thecycle of operations of the machine to effect relative movement of saidgripper and rest to pull the upper yieldingly and subsequently withoutattention from the operator to supplement said yielding pull by anunyielding pull.

44. An upper pulling machine having, in combination, an upper engaginggripper, power driven means for operating said gripper-to pull the upperyieldingly, and additional power driven means arranged to comeautomatically into action at a determinate time in the cycle ofoperations for moving the gripper unyieldingly to increase thetension ofthe upper.

45. An upper pulling machine having, incombination, an upper engaginggripper, a power driven operating member, a yielding connection betweensaid member and the gripper for operating the gripper to pull the upperyieldingly, and mechanism automatically operative at a determinate timein the cycle of the machine to substitute an unyielding connection forsaid yielding connection for further pulling the upper.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN T. LANCASTER.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,362,631, grantedDecember 21, 1920, upon the application of John T. Lancaster, ofHaverhill, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Upper-Pulling Machines,an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction asfollows: Page 7 line 81, claim 32, strike out the word operative; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOfiice. i

Signed and sealed this 8th day of March, A. D., 1921.

M. H. COULSTON,

Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL]

